Daytime Visibility

Dec 24, 2011

The night is a dark time for cyclists ... and we're not necessarily in the clear during the daytime, either. Overcast days, or roads that are heavily shaded, don't lend themselves to providing great visibility to drivers of cars approaching a rider from behind. For this reason, it's a great idea to outfit yourself with some bright clothing, gear, and/or accessories when you take off for a tour.

In the photo above, Adventure Cycling's shipping specialist, Sarah Raz, makes her daytime presence known with a set of flashy Pacific Outdoor rear panniers, a bright green Therm-a-Rest pad strapped to the rack, and a bright yellow Osprey hydration pack. Since I am without brightly colored panniers, I like to toss on a set of yellow Arkel pannier rain covers to make my bike stand out better, as you can see in the photo below.

?

If you don't want to invest in brighter clothes or gear, some inexpensive alternatives include a safety triangle, vest, or bright reflective stickers that can be applied to your rack, panniers, or bicycle frame.

--

TOURING GEAR AND TIPS is written by Joshua Tack of Adventure Cycling's member services department. It appears weekly, highlighting technical aspects of bicycle touring and advice to help better prepare you for the journey ahead.